The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-04-07
UNIQUElIDINNERS.
Eccentricities at Dinner
Tables in the Metropolis,
Artistic Skill in Cutting Fruit and Vege-
tables, Practical Jokes, Etc.

says New York correspondent of the
Detroit Post, ''seems to be the rage this
season. Any startling or unique inno-
walton appears to be welcome. The
fresh young man, who cuts human
face on an orange and then squeezes the
fruit until the eyes weep and the mouth
drizifes, is in his glory. If ladies are at
the table, he takes greater pleasure in
exhibiting his artistic skill. A few
smile, some give vent to exclamations
of commisseration, and others preserve a
dignifed silence. Peeling an orange
geometrically is another accomplish
ment. The yellow rind is cut in lines
with sharp penknife until it re-
sembles the "prisoner's puzzle" just now
attracting so much attention. The skin
is then stripped from the fruit in Sec
tions, making quaint angles, made anus
ing by the explanations accompanying
them. The apple, the Malaga grape, the
radish, and the banana also afford much
amusement in the hands of accomplished
artists. Indeed, one man has won such
eclat by his skill in carving vegetables
and esculents that he is known in society
as "Banana Bob"
Frequently these dining table eccen-
tricities are turned into practical jokes.
At a little dinner given to ex-Sheriff
William Wright of Newark, N. j., at
George Hopcraft's recently, the guests
wsrein continual roar OF laughter. The
chocolate cream candies were stuffed
with cotton, the lemon drops were made
of gum guaincum, and the candied al
monds were filled with Tabasco sauce.
Vegetables in covered dishes were placed
on the table with each course, and the
guests were asked to assist in serving
them. In removing the covers a live
eel, an enormous bulfrog, and huge
lizard from Lake Ontario were disclosed.
All were extremely lively. The eel
slipped within tho low-cut waistcoat of
the Sheriff, the bullfrog landed on Fish
Commissioner Charles Murphy's shoulder
and the lizard shot into the bosom of the
wicked Senator Gibbs. An old shoe,
mildewed and rotten, was placed before
Mr.. McSwyny, a well-known shoemaker.
He grew red in the face and was about
to treat the matter as mortal insult
when James Oliver of Paradise
Park turned the old shoe over,
opened slide in the sole, and disclosed
a dozen cigars of the finest flavor. The
shoe was candled dummy, made to Or
der. The little party became so bolster
Gus in its merriment that police officer
of Irish descent appeared. On seeing
the condition of the table, the room, and
its occupants, he apologized for his in
truson, saying: "Shin fame! shin fame
thought yees were having bit of a
ruction, but it's nothin' but a shindy!"
He improved the opportunity ofrcr,d
while all heads were turned listening
to a good story to sweep the remains of
the confectionery into his capacious
coat pocket. The theft was discovered
after his departure. "If his wife gets
a chocolate cream, his mother r-in-law a
lemon drop and the youngest child an
almond bean, what happy time that
policeman will have after he gets home"
observed the sheriff, and the hilarity was
redoubled.
l hear of dinners in the avenue where
living canaries fly out of the pies and
where bouquets of choice flowers hooped
with diamond rings are placed at the
plate of each guest. At another enter
tanment tiny oil paintings on leaves of
ivory depicted scenes in the life of
each guest. Uncle Rufus Hatch dis
played an unmatched eccentricity prior
to his departure to Europe. He had in :
vited friend to dine with him in a
private room at Morellps. An excellent
dinner was served. At its conclusion,
: and while the coffee was steaming, Rufus
called for Cubanos. They were brought.
Snow bring us light" said the ex-
nagnate from Wall street. The waiter
lighted a short snowy-wicked candle.
Rufus raised the china candlestick to
his mouth and lighted the cigar. He
then replaced the stick on the table,
and to the surprise of his guest took the
lighted candle from its socket, put it in
his mouth, ate and swallowed it. He
! changed not muscle of his conntenance
but there was merry twinkle in his
| gray eyes. A similar candle was placed
before his guest, who also lighted his
cigar. When asked why he did not eat
the taper he replied that he was no Cos
sack. Thereupon Rufus opened his
mouth and sent the second candle into
his stomach after the first one.
1t was week before the guest got an
explanation of the mystery. The can
dies were parts of apples fashioned into
rotund shape by the expert use of a pen
knife, and the wicks were the meats OF
almonds pared down and stuck into the
top of the vegetable tapers.
|
Coffee Cherries.